Transmitting high bandwidth network content on a low bandwidth communications channel during off peak hours

Patent 5978381 Issued on November 2, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

June 6, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Application

No. 870532 filed on 06/06/1997

US Classes:

370/432, Messages addressed to multiple destinations709/219, Accessing a remote server709/227COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING

Examiners

Primary: Olms, Douglas W.
Assistant: Sam, Phirin

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Workman, Nydegger, Seeley

Foreign Patent References

3204259 JP. 05/12/1991
4250591 JP. 07/12/1992
6314184 JP. 08/12/1994
2141907 GB. 01/12/1985
WO 9309631 WO. 11/12/1991
WO 9319427 WO. 03/12/1992

International Class

H04J 003/26

Abstract

The present invention describes a method for transmitting high bandwidth network content on a low bandwidth communications channel during off peak hours. According to one embodiment of the present invention, criteria is determined for downloading data from the communications channel and the data is downloaded from the communications channel during off-peak hours based on the determined criteria. According to another embodiment, a method for coordinated multicasts on a network is described. Download requests are received on a server from a plurality of clients on the network and stored on the server for the coordinated multicast. The coordinated multicast is generated at a predetermined time and then broadcast from the server to the plurality of clients at the predetermined time.

Other References

"A Hierarchical Internet Object Cache", Chankhunthod, et al., U.C. Southern California & U.C. Colorado, 6pp
"Monitoring Corporate Information With FirstFloor Products", FirstFloor, pp. 1-9, 199